To Benita Ford, Tallgrass, Oklahoma, will always be home. It's where her beloved grandmother raised her and where she rode bikes with her two best friends-the man who became her husband and Calvin. And Tallgrass is where she stayed, even after her husband died while serving his country. Now Calvin is home from that same war, and the sensitive, mischievous boy she once knew is today a man scarred by wounds no one else can see. Falling in love with him is something Bennie never imagined.

Tallgrass still haunts Captain Calvin Sweet. Yet it's where he must go to see Bennie-the one woman he always loved but could never have. Calvin regrets so much about what happened years ago. Still he can't deny being with Bennie makes his future feel bright, like anything is possible. But the demons of his past won't be quieted that easily. As old hurts linger, threatening to pull them apart, Calvin and Bennie must take the ultimate risk for the love of a lifetime . . .

Excerpt:

The tires crunched a few acorns that had fallen onto the pavement, then Calvin was turning into her driveway. Mama had left two porch lights on, plus the lamp beside her recliner in the living room and probably the light over the kitchen sink. She wasn't scared of the dark, but she sure didn't want her granddaughter walking into an unwelcoming house.

"Want to come in? Mama has an amazing collection of gourmet coffees from around the world."

Calvin shifted into park, the dash lights casting shadows across his face."Mama, who couldn't start her day without two cups of Maxwell House coffee?""What can I say? The Internet has expanded her horizons." Bennie waited, her breath caught just a little in her chest. She wasn't quite ready to say goodnight to him. She didn't even know why. He wasn't home on leave. This wasn't a quick visit on his way to someplace else. The Army had assigned him here, and he would be here tomorrow and next week and next year. She could thank him for dinner tonight and spend more time with him tomorrow.Or lure him inside tonight. Or both."Does she still sleep like a rock?""It's like all switches are off. She doesn't hear anything, see anything, feel anything.""Then coffee sounds good."Whew. Relief. Bennie climbed out and closed the door as carefully as she had at the restaurant. She half expected parts to fall of it the moment she exerted any real force on it, and Calvin would never let her forget that she'd damaged his ride.Just like she would never let him forget that it was a public health nuisance and should be put out of its misery immediately.They went inside quietly. She kicked off her shoes and went barefooted into the kitchen, flipping on the overhead light and taking three large metal baskets from the countertop. "They're divided by continent," she said quietly. "Central and South America are what we typically associate with coffee, the African beans are a little more exotic, and the Asian beans are the most complex flavors.""I'll try something Asian." Calvin stepped back to glance around the room."Nothing's changed in here."Bennie selected an African blend for herself, then measured water from a bottle in the fridge to pour into the machine. "Uh, yeah, one thing has. She traded her black dishwasher for a stainless one."His brow wrinkled. "I don't remember her having a black dishwasher—" At the appearance of her grin, he rolled his eyes. "Yeah, that old model used to whine a lot."After a moment, a heavenly rich flavor began rising from the coffeemaker."'The best part of waking up,'" Calvin sang off-tune."That's Gran's Folgers. And Maxwell House was always—""'Good to the last drop,'" they said in unison before laughing, then abruptly shushing themselves.Bennie didn't know what prompted her. Maybe it was all the memories she and Calvin shared. Maybe it was something about the complications between them that wanted to be made simple. Maybe it was nothing more than the fact that it was Friday and she was on a date and the hunger in her belly had been satisfied and she was feeling more like her old self than she had in a very long while.Whatever the reason, when she turned to get the sugar and found herself standing only a few tiny inches from Calvin, she just naturally closed that distance and lifted her mouth to his.She kissed him. Oh, God, she was kissing him, and he was kissing her back. Never in her whole life had she even imagined locking lips with her best old bud. Never in her whole life could she have imagined it would feel so incredibly right. Perfect. As if nothing stood between them—no past, no disagreements, no J'Myel. As if they existed, had always existed, only for this moment.

Known for her intensely emotional stories, Marilyn Pappano is the USA Today bestselling author of nearly eighty books. She has made regular appearances on bestseller lists and has received recognition for her work in the form of numerous awards. Though her husband's Navy career took them across the United States, he and Ms. Pappano now live in Oklahoma high on a hill that overlooks her hometown. They have one son and daughter-in-law, an adorable grandson, and a pack of mischievous dogs.

12/21/2015

New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author and RITA® Finalist, Carolyn Brown, has published more than sixty books.Brown presently writes both women's fiction and cowboy romance. She has also written historical single title, historical series, contemporary single title and contemporary series. She lives in southern Oklahoma with her husband, a former English teacher, who is not allowed to read her books until they are published. They have three children and enough grandchildren to keep them young.

Allie Logan isn't the type to land a hot hunk of cowboy. Truth is, she's given up on dating since shedding her no-good ex. But the new owner of the most ramshackle ranch in Texas might just change her mind about that. He's six-foot-plus of tall, dark, and charming-the kind of guy who could make a girl throw caution to the wind . . . or the kind of guy who could break her heart.

Blake Dawson hopes he can make Lucky Penny Ranch finally live up to its name, but the property needs a ton of work. Allie and her carpentry skills are his best shot at getting things in order. Besides the fact that her brown eyes and dangerous curves have him roped and tied. Now Blake only needs to convince her that a wild cowboy can be tamed by love-and she's just the one to do it . . .

At midnight Deke handed Allie the keys to his truck and said, “Place closes at two. Frankie says y’all can stay long as you want. Leave the keys on the front seat, Blake. I’ve got a lady who says she can make a mean breakfast come daylight.” He grinned and disappeared in a fog of smoke.

“One more dance?” Blake asked.

Allie stood up and moved out to the middle of the empty floor as Sam Cooke sang “Bring it on Home.” She wrapped her arms around Blake’s neck and smiled up at him. “It’s not hard to imagine my granny in her best dress out here on this very floor dancin’ with my grandpa to this song.”

“Who says she came here with your grandpa. Maybe it was with Walter,” he teased.

“I don’t want to think about that.” She leaned back and looked up at him.

She’d said no more kisses but those dark brown eyes mesmerized him. He tipped up her chin and whispered, “Then let’s think about this.”

His lips closed over hers and his arms pulled her tighter against his chest, his tongue finding its way inside her mouth, tasting the peach pie moonshine. Finally, she put her hands on his chest and pushed.

“Blake, I told you about that,” she said.

Her tone wasn’t every convincing so he brushed another kiss across her lips. “I was just seeing if the peach pie tasted better on your lips than it straight from the glass.”

“Have you always been a charmer,” she smiled.

“I can’t help it when I’m around you. You don’t have any idea how beautiful you are or how you affect a man, do you, darlin’?”

“On that note, I think it’s time for you to take me home.” She blushed, shrugged and threw up her palms all at once. It was so damned cute he wanted to kiss her again. “I mean, take me to my home, so don’t look at me like that.”

The dance ended and he led her out to the truck, wished the whole way back through the rutted road and to the county road leading home that she was sitting as close to him as she had been on the way to Frankie’s, and cussing himself for wanting her for more than a friend.

Sign up for Carolyn Brown's Newsletter and enter to win a pearl & diamond necklace!

12/15/2015

Bailey Moore has an agenda: skiing in the Rockies, exploring castles in Europe, ballroom dancing in Argentina. Now that she has a second lease on life, she's determined not to miss a thing. What she doesn't realize is that item #1 comes with a six-foot-one ski god hot enough to melt a polar ice cap. She doesn't want to miss out on him either, but Hudson Kincaid isn't the type of guy to love and let go. And as gorgeous as Cedar Ridge is, she's not planning to stick around.

As head of ski patrol at his family's resort, Hud thinks he's seen it all. But never has he run into someone like Bailey. She might look delicate, but her attitude is all firecracker. And her infectious joy touches something deep within him that he's been missing far too long. Now he'll just have to convince Bailey to take a chance on her biggest adventure yet . . . something rare and all kinds of wonderful.

Start from the beginning with book one in the Cedar Ridge series, SECOND CHANCE SUMMER!

RESCUE MECedar Ridge, Colorado, is famous for crisp mountain air, clear blue skies, and pine-scented breezes. And it's the last place Lily Danville wants to be. But she needs a job, and there's an opening at the hottest resort in her hometown. What has her concerned is the other hot property in Cedar Ridge: Aidan Kincaid—firefighter, rescue worker, and heartbreaker. She never could resist that devastating smile . . .

The Kincaid brothers are as rough and rugged as the Rocky Mountains they call home. Aidan has always done things his own way, by his own rules. And never has he regretted anything more than letting Lily walk out of his life ten years ago. If anyone has ever been in need of rescuing, she has. What she needs more than anything are long hikes, slow dances, and sizzling kisses. But that can only happen if he can get her to give Cedar Ridge-and this bad boy-a second chance . . .

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

If you long for a toasty snuggle on a cold winter’s night, this compilation of original short stories inspired by the magic of the holiday season—and more than a nod to Jane Austen—is fancied as a sublime wintertime treat. On the heels of the summer anthology, Sun-kissed: Effusions of Summer, and in concert with some of Meryton Press’s most popular authors, this romantic anthology introduces more promising writers. With a robust mix of contemporary and Regency musings, Then Comes Winter rekindles passionate fires with equal wonder, wit, and romance.

Denise Stout dreamed about writing from an early age, guided along the way by some special teachers who took an interest in her writing and encouraged her to pursue her words in print. She loves to write stories about strong women who strive for the best, sometimes faltering, but who always have the fortitude to pick themselves back up again while finding love along the way. A frequent contributor to FindSubscriptionBoxes.com, she also reviews books, movies, and products. When not driving carpools, watching her boys play sports from the sidelines, or volunteering, she loves to read. And write. And watch Jane Austen adaptations. Denise lives in the Baltimore area with her husband and three sons.

I'm so excited to be part of the Then Comes Winter Blog Tour! And, I'm very happy to be at Jen's Book Club Blog! I've known Jen nearly sixteen years--we met at a playgroup for our kids. We became fast friends and bonded over a lot of things, especially books! Thanks to Jen and her blog, I'm never without a book! I really appreciate her hosting today!

Then Comes Winter is wonderful anthology of Jane Austen-inspired stories set during the winter holiday season. There's a mix of historical and contemporary romances from authors from all over the world. Something for everyone and perfect reading for a chilly evening snuggled under a blanket.

My short story, "Christmas Miracle on Oyster Bay," is a contemporary romance with a nod to Pride and Prejudice. It's set in a fictional town on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. I hope you enjoy the teaser and it tempts you to read the rest Lissa and Simon's story:

EXCERPT:

“Is this a business transaction, or are you asking me out on a date? Because it sounds like more than business.”

“If it were a date, would it make a difference?”

She pondered for a moment. “I suppose a date would be fine. More than fine. Nice.” She smiled as she turned her kitchen radio to Christmas music. As she finished putting the dishes away, Simon took the trash out and then came back into the kitchen. She was humming along to “Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree” when she heard him snicker. “What’s so funny? And why are you staring at me?”

He pulled her into an embrace and then started swaying to the music. “You looked like you wanted to dance,” he said while spinning her. “I think you’re one of those rare gems many underestimate: a smart girl who loves books, hums to Christmas music, helps a guy out when he needs to host a party, and is so radiant, I just can’t resist the urge to kiss her.” And he did.

Softly, tentatively… And then deeper. Insistent. It was the perfect kiss, and Lissa felt herself leaning into him, putting her arms around his neck, running her fingers in his hair. Her body tingled with a frisson of energy she had not felt in a long time, if ever. She suspected he was finding that lost part of herself. She broke the kiss—“Simon…”—though her hands were still around his neck.

“Lissa, am I moving too fast?”

“I…I…I don’t know. This is so unexpected. You are so unexpected. I hadn’t thought beyond our business relationship. I’ve never seen this side of you.” She moved her hands to his shoulders and leaned back to look into his eyes—those piercing blue eyes. “I’m trying to reconcile the law professor with this…this passion…this passionate man before me. So gentle, so kind, so different. An amalgam I never expected.”

“I’m only a man. And, yes, when I have to be, I don’t back down. I win cases. I can be ruthless in the courtroom. I’m blunt. And honest. I don’t let my students cut corners. That’s my job. But, if you let me, I can show you that I’m more. I’m the kind of man who will treat you with respect, and care for you as you deserve if you’ll give me the chance.” His last words ended with another sizzling kiss.

“Um-hm.”

“Was that a yes?”

“Yes.”

Natalie Richards is a writer, blogger, and singer. She started her book review blog, Songs & Stories, in late 2010 after falling in love with Jane Austen fanfiction. Her writing can also be found on Figment, the Darcy & Lizzy Forum, TeenInk Magazine, and the Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer anthology. She resides with her family in the Oregon countryside and currently works as a waitress.

Melanie Stanford reads too much, plays music too loud, is sometimes dancing, and always daydreaming. She would also like her very own TARDIS, but only to travel to the past. She lives outside Calgary, Alberta, Canada with her husband, four kids, and ridiculous amounts of snow. Her first novel, SWAY, is coming December 29, 2015. You can find her at melaniestanfordbooks.com, on Twitter @MelMStanford, and on Facebook @MelanieStanfordauthor.

Linda Gonschior has entertained the art of writing since elementary school but never allowed it to come to fruition until Pride and Prejudice lured her deeper into the exploration of Jane Austen’s characters, relationships, and “what-ifs.” Seventeen years after writing Reflections as a short story, its publication as a full-length novel as well as the subsequent A Tarnished Image has opened up a new world with new friends and shared obsessions for all things Austen. Living on a large acreage in rural Niagara, Linda shares her home with her husband, son, cat, dog, and dust bunnies.

Suzan Lauder’s enjoyment of variety is evident in her dynamic career, food interests, hairstyles, and of course, her writing! No one story can predict the style or setting for the next as Lauder continues to experiment with her craft. Mad about historical research and learning new writing techniques, she’s an active member at the Austenesque fan site, A Happy Assembly. Her unique Regency romance with a mystery twist, Alias Thomas Bennet, was published by Meryton Press in 2013. Lauder’s fascination with the Regency period inspired her creative blog series, the Thrift Shop Regency Costume Experiment, a project that transforms found, re-used, discount, and vintage items into quality, Regency-era outfits. The amusing and resourceful approach includes original patterns, and it has garnered support from Regency and upcycling bloggers and fussy Regency costumers. Lauder and Mr. Suze live on beautiful Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, with two tabby cats who supervise her projects.

Maureen Lee Lenker is a writer, actress, director, and producer. She currently works at the USC Libraries as a program assistant and is also working towards an MA in Arts Journalism, reporting on arts, theatre, and entertainment. She has written for Turner Classic Movies, Ms. In The Biz, @ This Stage magazine, and more. You can find her previous holiday romance story, “From Keats with Love” in the Christmas Nookies anthology. When not at USC, she works on theatre productions throughout Los Angeles. She is a native Angelino who hates driving and cites peacoats and scarves as her favorite clothing items. An Anglophile, she attempted to fulfill her dream of attending Hogwarts by completing her master’s in British History at the University of Oxford. She is a cockeyed optimist, life-long Janeite, rom-com aficionado, classic movie buff, musical theatre geek, and general pop culture enthusiast.

Beau North is the author of Longbourn’s Songbird and the founder of the podcast and website Rhymes With Nerdy She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband. You can connect with Beau on Twitter @BeauNorth or at beaunorth.merytonpress.com.

Brooke West is a novice silversmith, proficient yogi, and expert cat-wrangler. She lives in South Carolina with her son, fiancé, and three cats. Find Brooke on Twitter @WordyWest.

Sophia Rose, a northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes region of the U.S., is a quiet yet curious gal who dabbles in cooking, snooping about old places, gardening, and is encouraged in her writing pursuits by an incredible man and loving family. Writing has been a compelling need of Sophia’s since childhood, and being a published author is a dream come true.

Lory Lilian is a Romanian Pride and Prejudice aficionado with a background in business. She has an awesome daughter and the gentlest French bulldog ever. She fell in love with Pride and Prejudice when she was thirteen and has read it about a hundred times since. The A&E television mini-series in 1995 had a dramatic impact on her fascination with Darcy and Elizabeth and inspired her to read and then start writing countless variations about her favorite couple. Lory is the author of five Pride and Prejudice-inspired books: Rainy Days, Remembrance of the Past, His Uncle’s Favorite, The Perfect Match, and Sketching Mr. Darcy. She is currently working on three more, all at the same time.

Erin Lopez is a reader, writer, wife and mother—although not in any particular order. While she reads and writes in a variety of genres, she has a special place in her heart for Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice fan fiction. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where she met and married her own “Mr. Darcy,” and they lived in Colorado and Arizona for a time. During their stay in Arizona, they brought two delightful daughters into the world and adopted a small, fuzzy dog. They have since returned to the Bay Area.

Anngela Schroeder lives in California with her husband of fifteen years and her three rambunctious sons. She has a degree in English with a concentration on British Literature and a Masters of Education. She has a slight obsession with Jane Austen and all things British. She enjoys traveling, baking, and making her family's world a magical place. She has published two other novels, The Quest for Camelot—book one in the Daughter of the Roundtable Series, and Affections and Wishes, a Jane Austen-inspired, modern-day romance. Follow her on Facebook, Anngela Schroeder-Author, and on Twitter @schros2000.

Christina Boyd wears many hats as she is an editor at Meryton Press, a contributor to Austenprose, and a ceramicist for the Made in Washington stores under her own banner, Stir Crazy Mama’s Artworks. A life member of Jane Austen Society of North America, Christina lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her dear Mr. B, two busy teenagers, and a retriever named BiBi. Visiting Jane Austen's England remains on her bucket list. On Twitter @xtnaboyd.

12/01/2015

As the CEO of a large tech company and a semi-reformed bad boy, Ethan Hill is used to calling the shots. But when he's sentenced to work two hundred hours of community service-for reckless driving, of all things-this chief executive needs to keep his real identity under wraps. Which gets increasingly difficult when he can't stop thinking about his sexy new (temporary) boss.

The moment Graciela Ramirez meets Ethan, she's tempted to throw all professionalism out the window. She can't afford to get emotionally involved, but after a steamy session behind office doors, a no-strings-attached fling might be exactly what they need. He'll protect his secret. She'll protect her heart. What could possibly go wrong?

Mia Sosa was born and raised in New York. She attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her bachelor's degree in Communications and met her own romantic hero, her husband. Mia once dreamed of being a professional singer, but practical considerations (read: the need to pay bills) led her to take the law school admissions test instead.

A graduate of Yale Law School, Mia practiced First Amendment and media law in the nation's capital for ten years before returning to her creative roots. Now, she spends most of her days writing contemporary romances about smart women and the complicated men who love them.

Mia lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters and will forever be on the hunt for the perfect karaoke bar.

“We have a dinner reservation at eight. I figure we could go bowling before then. It’s a family favorite. I used to play a lot when I was a kid. Are you game?”Gracie loved the idea, but she downplayed her excitement. Maybe this date wouldn’t be as terrifying as she’d imagined. “Sounds like fun. You’ll have to be patient with me, though. I haven’t played in a long time.”

He pushed off the wall and sidled up to her. “I was hoping you’d say that.” Then he took her jacket from her hands and stood behind her. As she slipped her arms through the jacket’s sleeves, he caged her in his arms. His warm breath drifted near her ear and she jumped. “Are you nervous?”“What gave it away? The sweat on my upper lip?”“Yes,” he said.She whipped around and stared him down.He took a step back with his hands in the air. “I’m kidding.” Then he grabbed the ends of the scarf she’d just draped around her neck and tugged her flush against him. “Why don’t we get the kiss out of the way? From there, everything should go smoothly.”Oh, yes, please. She reached into his jacket and threaded her hands together at his waist. “I should say no just to spite you.”“Ah, Gracie, but you’d only be punishing yourself.”She couldn’t help but to grin at his conceit. “Wow. Someone’s cocky this evening.”“Hold that thought for a couple of hours. Trust me. It’ll come in handy later.”She lifted her chin. “Are you stalling?”He didn’t answer. Instead, his mouth swept over hers as his hands rubbed her back. Gracie opened her mouth and welcomed him inside. His lips danced across hers like silk, and then he followed his careful ministrations with a gentle tug of her bottom lip. Gracie was startled by the attention Nic paid to her mouth. The kiss was not a means to an end. It was the end itself. And Gracie enjoyed every minute of it.Pressed against him, Gracie knew Nic was as affected by the kiss as she was. She reached between them, seeking his hard length. Once again, though, he stopped her. “Bowling,” he said in a rough voice. “We’re going bowling. And we need sustenance. Then you’ll see how cocky I can be.”Gracie laughed and pushed him away. He seemed to know exactly what to say to ease her jitters. “If you don’t stop talking yourself up, I’m going to start to think you’re all hype. Let’s go.”

Dr. Tom Crawford isn't feeling the spirit of the season when he arrives in Last Chance. Far from friends and family, he's the odd man out in this town of gossiping, tight-knit Southerners-until he meets a sweetly sexy single mom who makes him feel welcome. Suddenly the handsome doctor is thinking he's finally found a place to call home.

Local florist Teri Summers has her hands full of mistletoe in preparation for the holiday, yet finding someone to kiss is her last priority. But when the gorgeous new doctor makes a connection with her special needs son, Aiden, Teri finds herself wondering if she's finally found happiness in this season of joy. For Teri and Tom, Last Chance may be their best chance at love.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Sky4k2

B&N: http://bit.ly/1jjPAsl

iTunes: http://apple.co/1LzUA2O

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1MCYcoG

About Hope Ramsay

Hope Ramsay grew up on the North Shore of Long Island, but every summer Momma would pack her off under the care of Aunt Annie to go visiting with relatives in the midlands of South Carolina. Her extended family includes its share of colorful aunts and uncles, as well as cousins by the dozens, who provide the fodder for the characters you'll find in Last Chance, South Carolina. She's a two-time finalist in the Golden Heart and is married to a good ol' Georgia boy who resembles every single one of her heroes. She lives in Fairfax, Virginia, where you can often find her on the back deck, picking on her thirty-five-year-old Martin guitar.

“She turned to look over her shoulder. “Doctor Crawford, are you asking me out on a date?”He couldn’t tell if she was shocked or surprised, so he gave her a nonchalant shrug. Maybe he could fool her into thinking he wouldn’t be disappointed if she declined. “I am. I was wondering if you would introduce me to the barbecue in this town. I’ve heard it’s excellent.”“It is excellent. Much better than anything you’ve got in Boston.” She turned all the way around to face him. “But I’m afraid I’m busy tonight.”“Oh, all right. Some other time then.” He backpedaled, and his prosthesis almost tripped him up. He stifled the urge to massage his knee. He was just proud enough not to want Teri to know about his missing leg.He’d lost it as a result of bone cancer at the age of seven. His “peg leg” as Jimmy liked to call it, had been with him for a long, long time, and he was mostly steady on his feet. In truth, his scars from that time were far less visible.He took another step back, steadier on his one foot. Luckily, Teri hadn’t noticed his awkwardness. Good.“I’m putting up my own Christmas tree tonight,” Teri said in a rush, as if she was trying to explain her rejection. “Well, anyway, I’m going to try. But you know Aiden might not like it, so I was just going to, you know, put up something small and maybe put some angels on it or something. So I . . .” Her voice trailed off. Her face got redder.“I see,” he said.“Uh, well, Aiden and I are going to be on our own this Christmas, you know. And I need to put up a tree. I haven’t done that in a long, long time. I’m not sure how Aiden will react.”“Want some help?”She stood silent for the longest moment, either trying to compose herself or weighing the pros and cons. “You’d do that?” she finally asked.He opted to play this scene straight. No need to give her a speech about his past. The less said about that the better. “I’m pretty good at putting up Christmas trees. Although”—he looked around at the mess—“I might not be up to your professional standards.”Her mouth quirked as if she were trying to keep it from trembling. “My professional standards mean ”Her mouth quirked as if she were trying to keep it from trembling “My professional standards mean nothing. Aiden has definite likes and dislikes, and this year I thought I’d try to tailor Christmas to his standards, instead of forcing him to celebrate the holiday by everyone else’s.” She bit her lower lip.“Sounds like a good plan to me.” Man, she had one kissable mouth. Too bad he hadn’t caught her under the mistletoe that she was clearly planning to hang before the day was out.“Yeah,” she said with a little nod, “it does sound like a good plan, doesn’t it? I have no idea where this is going to lead though.”Neither do I. “I’m adventurous.” “I think that’s true. You came all the way from Boston to the middle of nowhere to do battle with Lillian Bray and the rest of the busybodies in this town. That takes courage.”He was surprised. Ma had told him that joining the NHSC had been an act of supreme stupidity. “So, what time?” he asked.“Uh, well, I guess about six.”“Six it is, then.” He turned and made the quickest of getaways before she realized that he’d just sort of invited himself over.”